The Earth and Beyond

The Sun is the star at the centre of our solar system.

Here is a useful mnemonic to help remember their order: My Very The Method Just Shows Us the Names sun. Easy nine planets orbit the of Planets.

But what do we know about the Sun?

The
Sun is 150 million kilometres away from us.

It

has a massive diameter of 1,393,000 km.

Sun was probably formed from a large cloud of gas about 5,000 million years ago.

Our

The moon orbits the Earth...

Sun

Earth

moon

...as the Earth orbits the Sun.

As the Earth orbits around the Sun, it also spins on its own axis; which is tipped, like a globes.

At any time, half of the Earth faces the sun and therefore receives light.
This part is in day.

This part is in night.

The other half faces away from the Sun, and so receives very little light.

What causes the Earths seasons?

As the Earth orbits the Sun, when its axis tips towards the Sun, the weather gets warmer. When it tips away, the weather gets colder, causing the Earths seasons.

In the northern hemisphere:

autumn here summer here

spring here

winter here

summer here
autumn here winter here

spring here

In the southern hemisphere:

So, when the Sun rises in Great Britain, on the other side of the world, its about to set in New Zealand. Great Britain

New Zealand

Why does the moon appear to change shape?

moon

moon moon

Earth

new moon

moon

full moon

It takes the moon 28 days to orbit the Earth. For 27 days out of this cycle, the Sun cannot shine on the

whole of the surface, facing the Earth. The light from the Sun can only shine on the whole surface for one night in each cycle: a full moon. On one night, no light from the Sun can reach the moon at all: a new moon.

Do you know...
how long it takes the Earth to which direction the Earth
turns? spin round once? takes 24 hours. It
It turns anti-clockwise. days.

how long it takes the takes 365 It Earth to

orbit the Sun once?
It turns anti-clockwise. which direction the Earth

orbits the sun?

Did you know?

One day on Venus lasts 117 Earth days.

Jupiter whips around in just 9 hours and 57 minutes.

One day on Mars is about the same as one day on Earth.

Now, explain to your partner:

How long does it take for the Earth to turn once? Why, if is it day in New Zealand, is it night in England?

Why does the Sun appear to rise and set? In which direction does the Earth spin on its axis?

Why does the moon appear to change shape?

In which direction does the Earth orbit the Sun?